Available Online at http://www.recentscientific.com International Journal of CODEN: IJRSFP (USA) Recent Scientific

International Journal of Recent Scientific Research Research Vol. 8, Issue, 11, pp. 22056-22062, November, 2017 ISSN: 0976-3031 DOI: 10.24327/IJRSR Research Article

STUDIES ON THE IMPACT OF INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES OF FAMILY , FABACEAE AND AMARANTHACEAE IN RAJOURI DISTRICT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Pallavi Shrikhandia1., Pourush Shrikhandia S.P2 and Sanjay Bhatia3

1,3Department of Zoology, University of Jammu, Jammu 2Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijrsr.2017.0811.1191

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Article History: The present study aims to deal with impact of invasive alien species of families Convolvulaceae, Fabaceae and Amaranthaceae in Rajouri district (J&K, India) with background Received 17th August, 2017 information on habit and nativity. A total of 07 invasive alien species have been recorded, Received in revised form 21st which include carnea (Jacq.), Ipomoea pes-tigridis (Linnaeus), (L.) September, 2017 Roth, Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit, Cassia tora (Linnaeus) Chenopodium album Accepted 05th October, 2017 (Linnaeus), Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. The result reveals that most species have Published online 28th November, 2017 been introduced unintentionally through trade, agriculture and other anthropogenic activities. There

Key Words: is utmost need of proper methods for early detection to control and reporting of infestations of spread of new and naturalized weeds. Invasive alien species; Rajouri district; Nativity; IAS; CBD

Copyright © Pallavi Shrikhandia., Pourush Shrikhandia S.P and Sanjay Bhatia, 2017, this is an open-access article

distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and

reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

INTRODUCTION The present study aims to act as a foundation stone for the advanced studies in invasion ecology and biology and would An alien species “refers to a species, subspecies or lower taxon, serve a benchmark for future assessment of extent of invasion introduced outside its natural past or present distribution; not only in this biodiversity rich region of J&K state but also includes any part, gametes, seeds, eggs, or propagules of such the rest of the country. species that might survive and subsequently reproduce” (CBD, 2002). These organisms are sometimes called “exotic”, “non- MATERIALS AND METHODS native” or “non-indigenous species.” Study Area Invasive alien species are a growing threat throughout the Jammu and Kashmir is the northern most state of India. It is world, causing losses in biodiversity, changes in ecosystems located between 32° 17’ to 37° 5’ north latitude and 73° 26’ to and impacts to economic enterprises such as agriculture, 80° 30’east longitude, occupying central position in the Asian forestry, fisheries, power production and international trade. continent. Those alien species that become established in a new environment, then proliferate and spread in ways that are It has three distinct climatic regions viz. arctic cold desert areas destructive to human interests are considered “Invasive Alien of Ladakh, temperate Kashmir valley and sub-tropical region of Species”(IAS).”Invasive alien species have invaded and Jammu. There is a sharp rise of altitude from 1000 feet to affected native biota in virtually every ecosystem type on earth. 28,250 feet above the sea level within state’s four degree of These species have contributed to many hundreds of latitude. The climate varies from tropical in Jammu plains to extinctions. The environmental cost is the irretrievable loss of semi-arctic cold in Ladakh with Kashmir and Jammu native species and ecosystems. Most nations are already mountainous tracts having temperate climatic conditions. The grappling with complex and costly invasive species problems. annual rainfall also varies from region to region with 92.6 mm Addressing the problem of invasive alien species is urgent in Leh, 650.5 mm in Srinagar and 1,115.9 mm in Jammu. A because the threat is growing daily, and the economic and large part of the state forms part of the western Himalayas. environmental impacts are severe.

*Corresponding author: Pallavi Shrikhandia Department of Zoology, University of Jammu, Jammu Pallavi Shrikhandia., Pourush Shrikhandia S.P and Sanjay Bhatia., Studies on The Impact of Invasive Alien Species of Family Convolvulaceae, Fabaceae And Amaranthaceae In Rajouri District of Jammu And Kashmir

The present work is carried by the author in the Rajouri district for invasive plant species. Periodic survey were conducted of which is situated in the west of Jammu division. It is during premonsoon, monsoon and postmonsoon seasons. All bounded by Poonch district in the north, Jammu district in the the available plant species were recorded and collected. south, Udhampur district in the east and Pak occupied Kashmir Observations were made regarding occurrence, distribution of (Mirpur area) in the west. It is located in the foothills of Pir plant species, colonization modes and damage or changes to the Panjal Range. The general elevation of the district is in the ecosystem caused by the invasive plants. Field observations range of 562-4800 m above mean sea level. Rajouri is the regarding individual plant species, site where it is growing and district headquarter, which is 160 km from Jammu, the winter the potential damage it is causing to the ecosystem was capital of Jammu and Kashmir. This part of Jammu region recorded in the field notebook and photography of it was done encompasses extraordinary biotic communities which is with Sony Sony DSC-T20 digital still camera. attracting people from different regions and is being promoted Preservation and Herbarium Records: The plant species as a tourist destination. collected during every field trip were carried to the laboratory With the operationalization of improved roads and highways and were properly pressed, dried and properly preserved and and better connectivity, the influx of traders, tourists, herbarium sheets were made using conventional methods of businessmen has increased manifold, thereby raising the threat processing and drying. of invasive alien species even more into this Pir Panjal range. Identification: After an extensive review of literature on global The main objectives of the present study are invasive species (Mooney and Drake,1987; Heywood, 1989; Cox, 1999, 2004; Cracroft and Francesca, 1999; D’Antonio and 1. Documentation and inventorisation of the alien flora of Vitousek, 1992; Drake et al.,1989; Randall et al.,1997; Rajouri district. Huxel,1999; Jenkins, 1999; Lonsdale, 1999; Mooney, 1999; 2. To record their origin, spread, introduction pathway and Elton, 2000; Mooney and Hobbs, 2000; Almeilla and Freitas, invasion status. 2001;Cowie, 2001; McNeely et al., 2005) and of India and 3. To spread public awareness on the impact of invasive their spread based on history, species origin, species behaviour alien species on environment and economy. and field observations, a list of 07 species plant invasives Extensive survey was carried out in Rajouri district during belonging to families Convolulaceae, Fabaceae and 2012 -2013. The field studies for documenting the spread of Amaranthaceae was prepared. The websites were also invasive alien species belonging to families Convolvulaceae, examined extensively for background information. Of these, Fabaceae and Amaranthaceae in Rajouri district of Jammu some species may have invaded only a restricted region, but Division were conducted in all the seven tehsils of the district have a huge probability of expanding and causing great viz. Rajouri, Nowshera, Kalakote, Sunderbani, Koteranka, damage. Existing literature and information from web based Thannamandi and Darhal. data, online identification system and ISSG database were used to determine the alien origin of the species. The present investigation aims to identify and document the invasive alien species present in the Rajouri district of the The identified voucher specimens were mounted in the Jammu region of J&K state. During the course of field study herbarium file of the size 41.5 cm x 28.5 cm along with the authors have selected different tehsils and blocks of Rajouri photographs and deposited in the museum of the Department of district viz; Rajouri, Nowshera, Kalakote, Sunderbani, Budhal, Zoology, University of Jammu, Jammu. Each plant species was Thannamandi, Darhal, Koteranka and Manjakote and the provided with its botanical name, author citation and brief following steps were followed: visit to study sites, sample morphological description. Besides, help from other agencies collection, preservation and identification. During this period were also undertaken. enquiries were conducted from farmers and agriculturalists of each site about the invasive biota. Every site was divided into RESULTS AND DISCUSSION different land use types, and the division was made as follows: In view of the immediate importance of Invasive Alien Species, agricultural fields, forest areas, roadsides, fallow land, along there is an apparent need for a regional and national authentic the banks of water bodies, residential areas, low land, water database for monitoring the spread and impact in various bodies, waste lands, etc. regions and for devising appropriate management strategies.

Each study site was intensively sampled for the invasive The present study records first ever database on the invasive species, their numbers and other characters. The survey and alien species of families Convolvulaceae, Fabaceae and data collection on the invasive alien species of Rajouri district Amaranthaceae. Rajouri district of Jammu division of J&K followed a random sampling method so that no bias is state. The survey yielded a total of 07 species of invasive alien introduced. The field books were maintained to record the plants, which include (Jacq.), Ipomoea pes- following information : collection number, date of collection, tigridis (Linnaeus), Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth, Leucaena local name, family, habit, habitat and impacts. The species leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit, Cassia tora (Linnaeus), were collected systematically, preserved and stored for Chenopodium album (Linnaeus) and Alternanthera identification. Existing literature and information from web philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. Of these, Cassia tora (Linnaeus) based data, online identification system and ISSG database and Chenopodium album (Linnaeus) are herbs, Ipomoea carnea were used to determine the alien origin of the species. (Jacq.) is a shrub, Ipomoea pes-tigridis (Linnaeus) and Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth are climbers while Alternanthera Survey and Collection: A comprehensive survey was philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. is an aquatic plant. However, conducted by the author in various locations in Rajouri district many more species have also been recorded from different 22057 | P a g e International Journal of Recent Scientific Research Vol. 8, Issue, 11, pp. 22056-22062, November, 2017 parts of Rajouri but their taxonomic status have so far not been areas. It is highly toxic to sheep, cattle and goat (Bhattacharyya determined. Efforts are on to get them identified and will be and Midya, 1979). It is able to cause severe nervous disorder included in the database shortly. About 80% of these alien when ingested by bovines, sheep or goats (Tokarnia et al., species were introduced from Europe, followed by North 2000). It competes with native plants for various resources. The America. rapid growth rate, spread, and adaptability from aquatic to xerophytic habitats indicate that this plant may potentially Contemplating the importance of studies on invasive alien become another ecological disaster in India like water hyacinth. species, especially in the areas the of high anthropogenic It now causes serious invasions in wetland habitats of India and interference, present study was aimed at compiling the first Pakistan where streams, mangroves and other ecosystems may ever inventorisation of the alien flora of Rajouri district, along be blocked, hampering irrigation. It spreads on land in many with supplementation of each species with information on habitats and may cause obstruction and difficulties in the origin, habit, spread, introduction pathway and the invasion proper use of the land for cultivation. In water it affects status. irrigation, navigation and fisheries. Ipomoea carnea Jacq. Threat level: High. Order: Family: Convolvulaceae Ipomoea pes-tigridis (Linnaeus) Common Name: Pink , Bush morning glory. Order: Solanales Family: Convolvulaceae Short Description: Ipomea carnea is a shrub which grows to 1- Common Name: Morning glory, Tiger foot morning glory, 5 m high. The stem is thick and develops into a solid trunk over Bindweed, Cupid’s . several years with many branches from base; leaves are rich green, heart-shaped or somewhat lanceolate and 10 -25cm Short Description : It is a slender, herbaceous annual, twining long; in clusters at the ends of branches, pale to deep or sometimes prostrate twig, 0.5 -3 m long, all parts being more pink and funnel shaped; fruit is brown, glabrous dehiscent or less covered with rather long, spreading, pale, or brownish capsule; plants bloom in all spring and summer long. hairs. The leaves are 2 to 8 cm long, petioles stalked. The leaf blades are elliptical to circular in outline across, 2 to10 cm long Habitat: It grows along the road sides, river banks, ponds, and 3 to 13 inches wide. They are deep palm-like divided into agricultural areas, railway tracks, canals, lakes. Common weed five to nine segments. These are elliptical or elongated, tapered of marhsy lands and along the edges of tanks and ditches. at both ends. The flowers occur in axillary head, usually only Biology/Ecology one opening at a time. The sepal tube is green and about 1 cm long. The flowers are white and 4 cm long. The fruit is brown, Dispersal Mechanism: Spread primarily by means of seeds. ovoid and 6-7 mm long capsules. Seeds black, 4 mm long, grey Reclining stems in contact with the soil develop adventitious pubescent. Flowering and fruiting mainly occurs during July - roots and detached portions can grow into new plants. Suckers February. are produced as well. Habitat: It occurs in grasslands, waste places, fields, thickets, Reproduction: It reproduces by seeds. Fruits dehiscence occurs occasionally in teak forests, also in sandy soils near river and during winter by the splitting of the dry fruit wall and the hairy lake banks. seeds are dispersed by wind and water. It produces 8000 to 10,000 seeds per plant. The seeds do not germinate Biology/Ecology immediately because of hard seed coat which is impervious to Dispersal Mechanism: It is mainly spread by seeds and also water. Germination is increased by the removal of seed coat from herbaceous stem cuttings. and also varies according to temperature. It also propagates vegetatively via stems that come in contact with the soil, from Reproduction: This species reproduces by seeds and it has the roots and can develop into new plants. ablity to set seeds quickly and in enormous quantities. It also reproduces by vegetative propagules. Distribution Distribution Native Range: Tropical America. Native Range: Native to tropical East Africa. Introduced Range: It was introduced into areas outside the Neotropics. It is naturalised in China, India, Sri Lanka, Introduced Range: It is naturalised in China, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, East Africa, Malayan Archipelago, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Pakistan, Okinawa. It was introduced to Egypt for ornamental purpose. Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Africa and Australia. Distribution in India: Throughout. Distribution in India: Throughout. Distribution in Jammu Division (Rajouri district): Widespread. Distribution in Jammu Division (Rajouri district): Widespread across all the tehsils of Rajouri district. Introduction Pathway: By man for ornamental purpose, by floods, soil and wind agency. Introduction Pathway: Introduced to new areas by contaminated agricultural tools, water movements, wind, soil Impact: It is a localized weed and wherever it grows it and human activities. dominates over the associated species. In India, it is a common weed in agriculture fields but is spreading very fast to other

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Impact: Ipomoea pes-tigridis aggressively colonises open, Distribution in India: Throughout. sunny, grassy places such as roadsides, pastures, old clearings Distribution in Jammu Division (Rajouri district): in forest, and edges of cultivated fields. The twinning stem of Widespread. this weed twist around the crop plants and help them to climb up. Once these weeds climb up the crop plants they use Introduction Pathway: By Birds, movement of water, wind maximum proportion of sunlight and compete with them for agency and by human activities. resources, resulting in their stunted growth which in turn Impact: Ipomoea purpurea is mainly a weed of agricultural affects the yield of agricultural crops. This weed crawl around areas and disturbed sites (e.g. crops, roadsides, parks, gardens, the maize plants and cover their canopy from all the sides. The fence-lines and waste areas). However, it also invades bushland vegetative growth of these weeds is so vigorous that whenever and riparian zones and can be a serious environmental invasive their weight become excess they breaks the crop plants and species in warm moist areas, where it chokes out native plants. cause heavy loss of crops. Once established in areas of indigenous vegetation,it is able to Threat level: Moderate To High. outcompete native species for nutrients, water and sunlight. It spreads mainly along riparian zones. The seed are poisonous if Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth ingested. The damage is caused by inhibiting photosynthesis of Order: Solanales Family: Convolvulaceae the trees they climb on and cover and by breaking branches by their weight. It is able to both self-fertilize and cross-fertilize, Common Name: Common morning glory, Morning glory, insuring there is some seed set if there is lack of pollinators. It Purple morning glory, Tall morning glory. has the capability to produce large numbers of seeds; it strongly Short Description: Ipomoea purpurea is competes with cotton plantations (Crowley and Buchanan, a herbaceous annual twining climber. Stems are hairy and may 1982). be trailing or twinning. The leaf blade is ovate, entire or 3- Threat level: Moderate to high. lobed, acuminate at the apex, heart-shaped at the base, glabrous or pubescent. Flowers are solitary or in few- Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit flowered cymes. The stalk of the inflorescence is up to 12 cm Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae long. Sepals finely pubescent all over; corolla is white, pink or magenta and white below. The blooming period occurs from Common Name: Horse tamarind, Lead tree, White lead-tree, mid-summer to fall and lasts 2-3 months. Each flower open in White popinac, Wild tamarind, Coffee bush. the early morning and close before noon each day during the Short Description: Leucaena leucocephala usually grows upto blooming season The large seeds are dark-colored and wedge- 2-10 m tall, but occasionally reaching 15 m or more in height shaped. Single plant can produce upto 26,000 seeds/plant with bipinnate leaves. The younger stems are green and usually (Crowley and Buchanan,1982). densely covered with fine greyish coloured hairs and Habitat: Ipomoea purpurea invades waste and cultivated pubescence. Older stems have a relatively smooth, greyish or ground mainly in riparian, roadsides, railroads, wetland and greyish-brown, bark with numerous small raised spots. Flowers coastal habitats. grow in cluster on the end of branches. Individual flowers are white, turning brown at maturity. It is a prolific seed producer. Biology/Ecology The dark brown seed pods are flat, roughly 4 to 6 inches long, Dispersal Mechanism: This plant spreads by reseeding itself. with about 20 seeds. Seeds are glossy brown, oval, flat, 6 mm Seed dispersal is by wind, rain action and gravity (Danielson, long. 1970). Seeds also can be spread by birds and by human Habitat: A very troublesome weed of riparian zones and activities, by way of contaminated crop and flower seeds. roadsides. It is also found in open woodlands, gardens, parks, Reproduction: It has perfect flowers and is capable waste areas, disturbed sites and on coastal foreshores and of reproducing both through selfing and outcrossing. It relies offshore islands. primarily on insect pollination but is also capable of self- Biology/Ecology fertilization. About 30% of the flowers are self-pollinated; lighter colored flowers more often are self-pollinated / self- Dispersal Mechanism: The seeds are often dispersed by small fertilized. Cross pollination occurs mostly by bumblebees and animals and cattle. The light pods may also be spread short reportedly small butterflies; darker colored flowers have a distances by wind and water. higher degree of outcrossing and thus provide for variation Reproduction: The flowers are self-fertile, and most seed within the species (Chang and Rausher, 1999; Defelice, 2001). results from self-pollination. Flowering and fruiting occur Distribution throughout the year as long as moisture permits; fruiting is associated with suppression of vegetative growth. Arboreal Native Range: Native to tropical America (Mabberley, 1997; have been selected for lower flowering rate. Fruits United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: ripen in 10-15 weeks. Iverson 2002). Native Range: Native to Mexico and Central America. Introduced Range: It is naturalized throughout warm temperate and subtropical regions of the world. Introduced Range: It is naturalised in South America, Asia, Southern Europe, Australia and Africa.

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Distribution in India: Throughout. Reproduction: Cassia tora reproduces only by seed. A single plant is capable of producing numerous sickle shaped fruits, Distribution in Jammu Division (Rajouri district): each containing many seeds. Widespread. Distribution Introduction Pathway: By man, animals, water flow, and by wind agency. Widely promoted by national and international Native Range: This plant is native to tropical South America. agricultrual and forestry development agencies for agroforestry Introduced Range: It is naturalised throughout the tropical and and agricultural use. subtropical regions of the world. Impact: It is an environmental weed in many parts of the Distribution in India: Throughout. world. It grows very fast in suitable sites. In areas where it is considered an invasive, it forms dense thickets that are difficult Distribution in Jammu Division (Rajouri district): to control once established. Disturbed, cleared areas, coastal Widespread. strands, outskirts of forests and canopy gaps are some locations Introduction Pathway: It is introduced to new places by regularly invaded by this species. Invaded areas become contaminated agricultural produce (i.e. fodder and pasture unusable and inaccessible with most other vegetation being seeds), wind, water, transportation and translocation of replaced. Once it establishes itself it displaces native vegetation machinery/equipments. and can promote suitable conditions for the establishment of Impact: Cassia tora is an obnoxious, aggressive, annual, even more aggressive invaders. The mimosine in the leaves herbaceous weed of the family Leguminosae. It grows very of L. leucocephala can cause hair loss, infertility and stomach aggressively, competing with crops for environmental problems in livestock, especially those that are not ruminants. resources and releasing toxic chemicals into the surrounding It has been nominated as among 100 of the “World’s Worst” soil. This plant has been referred to as the most economically invaders. destructive invasive species throughout the country (Oudhia, 1999). Chemical analysis of this species, however, has Threat level: High indicated the presence of a large number of compounds that are Cassia tora (Linnaeus) allelopathic in nature. The aqueous extract of the whole plant and leaves produces an inhibitory allelopathic effect on many Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae plants (Sarkar et al., 2012). It is considerably phytotoxic to the Common Name: Foetid cassia, Sickle senna, Wild senna, growth and development of mustard plantations. Chinese senna, Java bean, Stinking cassia, Coffee pod, Threat Level: High Ringworm plant. Chenopodium album (Linnaeus) Short Description: An erect annual herb, grows up to 90 cm in height, stems are usually hairless or sparsely hairy. Leaves are Order: Caryophyllales Family: Amaranthaceae compound and are arranged alternately along the stems and are Common Name: Antigua hay grass, Fat hen, Goosefoot, borne on relatively long stalks 20-45 mm long. The leaves (50- Lamb’s quarters, Nandi blue grass, Nawai grass, Pigweed, 75 mm long) have two to four pairs of leaflets that are egg- Silver grass, White goosefoot. shaped in outline with the narrower end attached to the stalk. The leaflets (10-55 mm long and 10-35 mm wide) have Short Description: Erect annual herb up to 1.5(-4) m tall; The rounded tips and their margins are lined with tiny hairs. stems are ridged longitudinally. They are upright green to Flowers are yellow in colour and are borne on short stalks. The reddish in colour, with a grey mealy surface. Leaves are flowers are arranged in pairs in the leaf forks and are mostly alternately arranged with leaf stalks 0.5-5 cm long. The flowers found near the tips of the branches. Flowering occurs mostly are small, greenish- white and crumb-like in appearance. They from late summer through to early winter. The fruit is a very are borne on branched inflorescences on the upper part of the slender, sickle-shaped pod. These pods turn brownish-green as plant. When mature, the fruit are often enclosed by papery they mature and are slightly indented between each of the sepals. Seeds are shiny black discs measuring 1.2-1.8 mm numerous seeds. The seeds are striped olive and brown (about across. The blooming period can occur from mid-summer 3 mm long), shiny in appearance and flattened or irregularly through the fall. shaped. Habitat: Common and widespread invasive species found in Habitat: A weed of disturbed sites, waste areas, roadsides, cultivation, gardens and along roadsides and footpaths. waterways, agronomic crops and pastures. Biology/Ecology Biology/Ecology Dispersal Mechanism: There is no special system of seed Dispersal Mechanism: This plant is mainly spread by seeds. dispersal so that most of the seeds drop to the ground. They are The seeds can disperse upto 5m from the plant. Long distance not buoyant, but surface water may wash them into ditches seed dispersal in nature is mostly by stream flow, water where they can be moved long distances. They are also movements over the soil surface or in mud attached to the feet dispersed through dung and droppings of animals and birds. and fur of animals. Many animals like cattle, horses and goat Reproduction: It reproduces by seeds. Single mature plants can ingest the seeds, some of which survive passage through the produce upto 500,000 seeds. Seeds have been known to survive gut and are spread in the dung dispersal. from 30 to 40 years in soil (Holm et al., 1977).

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Distribution shape. Seeds rarely develop, and those that do are seldom viable. Native Range: European origin (Wagner et al., 1999). Habitat: It usually grows in aquatic habitats (e.g. canals, rivers, Introduced Range: It is widespread throughout swamps, lakes, dams, ditches, etc.), being rooted to the ground the temperate and tropical regions of the world. It has widely and emerging above the water surface. However, it can also be invaded Africa, Australia, Asia and North America. found free-floating in dense mats on the water surface or Distribution in India: Throughout. growing in terrestrial habitats. It is also a potential weed of wetter pastures and irrigated crops. Distribution in Jammu Division (Rajouri district): Widespread. Biology/Ecology

Introduction Pathway: Translocation of machinery/equipment, Dispersal Mechanism: This plant is spread through water movements and by dung and droppings of animals and fragmentation. Each node or fragment with a node is capable of birds. producing a new plant. Plants are highly competitive and have rapid growth rates. Impact: It is one of the most widely distributed invasive species in the world and is a very successful coloniser of Reproduction: Reproduction is predominantly through habitats that have been recently affected by disturbance. It is vegetative means; individuals rarely produce seeds, and when one of the more robust and competitive species, capable of they do, the seeds are typically non-viable. Vegetative growth inducing crop losses. It thrives on all soil types and over a wide occurs at the apical stem buds, axillary stem and root buds. range of pH values. Its can contribute to hay fever-like Distribution allergies. It is one of the most serious weeds of a range crop species (e.g., potatoes, sugar beets, carrots, and soybeans). It Native Range: Native to South America. may act as a host to insect pests including the invasive black Introduced Range: North America, Asia, Australia, New bean aphid. It can also serve host to many of the deadly plant Zealand and Europe. viruses. Distribution in India: Throughout. Threat Level: Moderate to high. Distribution in Jammu Division (Rajouri district): Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb Widespread. Order: Cryophyllales Family: Amaranthaceae Introduction Pathway: Stem segments, which have the ability Common Name: Alligator grass, Alligator weed, Pig weed. to float, are easily dispersed by floods and water currents. They may also be spread by boats and other water craft, in dumped The ability of A. philoxeroides to persist in terrestrial, semi- garden waste and by animals or vehicles. aquatic, and aquatic environments, the ability to rapidly take Impact: It is considered to be one of the worst aquatic weeds in root along waterway banks, ability to propagate via vegetative the world. (Gunasekera, 1999). fragmentation and waterborne dispersal of vegetative propagules all contribute to its success as an invasive species. Economic Damage: Alligator weed disrupts many economic uses of water (Holm et al., 1997). Thick mats prevent drainage Short Description: A long-lived aquatic, semi aquatic or canals, ditches, streams, and other small waterways from terrestrial herbaceous plant with a creeping, semi-upright or emptying rapidly during periods of heavy water load, thus free-floating growth habit. The stems of this weed often grow causing flooding. If mats break loose, they create obstructions as runners along the ground or creeping below the ground by piling up against bridges, dams, and sharp bends in surface. They may also spread out over the surface of water waterways. Thick mats also increase mosquito habitat. bodies and tend to form dense mats of vegetation (up to 1 m Navigation of small waterways is obstructed, as is shoreline thick). These aquatic stems usually become hollow as they navigation in large waterways. Efficiency of irrigation systems mature, which aids in floatation. The production of roots from is decreased. A perusal of various commercial Internet sites in the nodes of these stems is quite common. Stems can be up to April, 2001 indicated that costs would be approximately $170 10 m long and mats of vegetation can be formed up to 15 m out to $370/ha for control of alligator weed with the herbicides over the water surface. Younger stems are light green to glyphosate and fluoridone. reddish in colour, hairless, and have slightly swollen nodes. The dark green leaves are borne in pairs along the stems and Ecological Damage: Alligator weed, like many other invasive usually do not have any leaf stalks. They are elongated in shape aquatic plants, displaces native plants in ditches, along banks, with entire margins and pointed tips. The leaves are hairless and in shallow water (Holm et al., 1997) It disrupts water flow and have a somewhat waxy appearance. The whitish flowers causing increased sedimentation, and it shades submerged are borne in dense globular clusters at the top of stalks. These plants and animals causing reduced oxygen levels beneath the flower clusters are usually produced in the forks of the upper mat (Quimby and Kay, 1976). It can also prevent access to and leaves. Each flower has five small white ‘petals’ and five use of water by livestock and humans, damage pumping and yellow stamens. Flowering occurs from late spring through to irrigation equipment, disrupt various recreational activities (e.g. early autumn. The small fruiting ’capsules’ (i.e. utricles) recreational water sports, boating, fishing and swimming), are brownish in colour, bladder-like in appearance, and contain degrade the natural aesthetics of invaded areas, and promote a single seed. The seeds are smooth in texture and oval in health problems by providing habitat for disease-carrying 22061 | P a g e International Journal of Recent Scientific Research Vol. 8, Issue, 11, pp. 22056-22062, November, 2017 mosquitoes. It is seen as a major threat to irrigated crops, Gunasekera, L. (1999). Alligator weed-an aquatic weed particularly rice crops. present in Australian backyards. Plant Protection Quarterly, 14: 77-78. Threat Level: High. Heywood,V.(1989). Patterns, Extents and Modes of Invasion by CONCLUSION Terrestrial Plants. In: Drake,J,et al(eds.), Biological Invasions: A Global Perspective, Wiley, NY, 31-60. In conclusion, our study indicates that such anthropogenic Holm, L.G., Donald, P., Pancho, J.V. and Herberger, J.P. (1977) influences along with wanton axing of forests, unregulated .The world's worst weeds: distribution and biology. The grazing, pollution, climate change etc, have promoted invasion University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii. 609 pp. by non-native species Holm L.G., Doll J., Holm E., Pancho J.V. and Herberger J.P. (1997): World Weeds, Natural Histories and Distribution. Acknowledgements Wiley, Hoboken, New Jersey. Huxel, G.R. (1999). Rapid displacement of native species by The author wish to thank Head, Department of Zoology, invasive species: effects of hybridisation. Biological University of Jammu for providing necessary facilities. Conservation, 89:143-52. Jenkins, P.T. (1999). Trade and exotic species introductions. In References Sandlund,O.T., Schei,P. 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